“When Mustafa Kemal landed in Samsun city of Anatolia on 19th May 1919, the situation of Anatolia was quite bad. People who came out wars which have been continued for long time, were tired, exhausted, and depressed. The Ottoman state was taken prisoner and Istanbul was occupied by emperialist forces. Sultan Vahideddin had no choice and was miserable.

The people who were tired from wars that have continued for long time could not taken one more war into consideration. But, when districts of Anatolia were started to occupy by westerners, and each district began to defend its property, life and honor.

Thus national forces called “Kuva-yi Milliye” was formed by Mustafa Kemal could establish an orderly army by organizing the Kuva-yi Milliye unities. Thereby, Anatolia people started straggling for their own motherland and national values one more time.”

Think about it, the world war has finished yet. Ottoman army has lost about 1,5 million soldiers, next to this figure about 200,000 troops have been captured in from Egypt to Tripoli on many fronts. There was no gun, even no food in Anatolia. While Mustafa Kemal and Kuva-i Milliye army started to Independence war with Anatolia people, they had only 3 war planes, even one of them was broken German war plane.

Under this circumstances, whole Anatolia people resisted against invader imperialist forces. According to Sevres Treaty, Anatolia has been occupied as the following map:

So, Anatolia people who had suffered great losses were struggling with the atrocities of the invader countries.

And they started a new war, their Independence War against imperialism with the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Independence War of Turkey was not easy. There are many photographs that you can see on internet about war loses of the countries, like after WW2. But there are not so many pictures about how Anatolia has been after Independence war. People can forget or don’t remember if there is no photograph. Without photograph as if the war seems not to happen. I have found these about how Anatolia was after the Independence War of Turkey. These tell how much horrible that war. Because while the occupied countries was retreating, they burned the cities and left behind them. These are the photograps which were taken in some Anatolia cities during and after Independence War of Turkey.(1919-1922)

I hope these photographs have given some clues how much struggled Anatolia people fought in their Independence War.

A country in this shape was left into the hands of the people of Anatolia by imperialists. But Anatolia people built the new republic over it with the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Today, 19th May, is celebrated as “Commemoration Ataturk and Youth and Sports Day” every year. Ataturk had said for this day, “19 May is my birthday.” Intrestingly, Ataturk’s real birth date is not known. And with the republic, 19 May had been recorded as his birthday to his identity card.

He always believed in youth. Almost every words of him address to the youth. Like his words of Nutuk, he trusted youth for county.

You can hear the words like that: “Ataturk is not popular for the Turkey people anymore.”

Don’t give the credits to these words. If there is something, this is the truth of the longing to Ataturk of Turkey people is rising in every year.

People, young or adult, go to Anıtkabir every national day. Huge crowds are gathering to memorialize and express gratitude for Ataturk in every city. They sing songs or marchs for him, the pictures or photographs are collecting and making posters, and many things are done. Like the video that I have shared at first line of this post. The lyric of that song: “I have never known anyone more special than you. I have never seen anyone more beautiful than you.” Like this song and video, if you write on youtube,”Ataturk cocukları” or “Izmir Marsı” (there are more but these two enough I guess) you can see that especially the young people’s longing and love to Ataturk.

This attitude of Turkey people, could seem weird for the rest of the world. They can ask: “Why the people are still keeping Ataturk in their hearts and minds almost 100 years later?”

Nobody forces Turkey Republic people to keep Ataturk in their hearts or mind. This is made without any pressure and made sincerely. Even more and more with everyday, the commitment to Ataturk is rising. (like Newton’s Third Law of Motion)

And the anwser of the question of “Why the people still keep Ataturk in their hearts and minds almost 100 years later?”: “Are you able to forget the person who gave you freedom and your honor back?”

I know this was a question-answer but it is still answer you know.;)

And happy May 19th, to the youth and to the ones who always feel and think like young!

4 thoughts on “19 May 1919 — ∞”

Great post, my friend! To me he seems like George Washington a little bit. Or the American Revolutionaries. If they lost the American War of Independence, they would all have been executed in the most humiliating ways.

I am glad Anatolia remembers Ataturk! And, as you say, it is natural and not forced. That is a beautiful thing!

In the U.S., our independence was won so long ago that the Revolutionaries are no longer cool with young people.

I think you have the key. Show the photos. Obviously, there was no photography in 1776. But when the young people can relate their struggles to history, this is very important.

I know, for me, I am inspired by the founders of the USA. They did not have it easy. They had almost no food in the winter in Valley Forge. But they persisted.

I am inspired because I take dangerous positions. I speak truth the best I can. If I make mistakes, I try to correct. But I sympathize with the wonderful revolutionaries like Ataturk and Washington.

It is either succeed or die. The odds are heavily against such revolutionaries. But they succeed because of PASSION. As you said, the spirit of youth. They WANT IT (victory) more than the superior force.

So I pray for the secular supporters of Ataturk (I know that is ironic). I pray for Anatolia. For the success of logic and reason. And I am a cheerleader for the youth who want to determine their own future.

Thank you for your detailed comment, my dear Earthling friend. I hope the young people in everywhere on the planet could understand some day, how much bad days were experienced at history. History wasn’t shape like in the computer games, or wasn’t happened like on internet. Thus, they can value the days that they hold in these days.

George Washington, he is an another valuable historical character. As far as I know(but I have to admit I don’t know too much things about Independence days of US) like you said, he made the right things with equal Ataturk did.

Also, it is not weird to have good feelings for “secularism”. Because, actually secularism means that “a state that is equally distant from all religions and that does not mix religion and state affairs one to another.”

And actually, the people aren’t the secularists; the state is the secularist. With the secular state, the people gain the freedom to live their own religion, but only without getting involved into the state affairs. So, any people who has the different religion is treated as “equal citizens” by the state, regardless of religious differences. So, I mean that “secularism” is actually guarantees the belief of every religious believer in front of the state.

Also, I admire to your youth flame inside you! Thank you for what you do with young soul always!